Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07QUITO575
2007-03-12 21:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
GOE REACTION TO HRC OBJECTIVES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0575 0712129 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 122129Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6529 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0359 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0105 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6520 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 2441 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR 0489 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 1498 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 2036 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS QUITO 000575
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL AORC SNAR UN CO EC
SUBJECT: GOE REACTION TO HRC OBJECTIVES
REF: STATE 26833
UNCLAS QUITO 000575
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL AORC SNAR UN CO EC
SUBJECT: GOE REACTION TO HRC OBJECTIVES
REF: STATE 26833
1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points on March 9 to
Lourdes Puma Puma, MFA Director General for multilateral
affairs. Puma confirmed that Ecuadorian Foreign Minister
Maria Fernanda Espinoza will attend the opening sessions of
the Human Rights Council, as well as the disarmament
commission.
Response to USG Priorities
--------------
2. (SBU) Burma: The GOE agrees in principal with USG
position on Burma. The GOE hopes that swift action is taken.
3. (SBU) Sudan: The GOE continues to support the
Assessment Mission's visit to Sudan and will support any
proposals in the Human Rights Council that are designed to
help those who are suffering in Sudan. Puma expressed her
hope that the Mission's reports would be unbiased and fair.
4. (SBU) Country Specific Mandates: Puma described this
set of issues as complex and did not commit the GOE. She
said the GOE links the Country Specific Mandates directly to
the overall institution building of the Council. The GOE
does not want to see the Council politicized (as it believes
the Human Rights Commission was) and wants to be certain that
each Country Specific Mandate is dealt with fairly and
thoroughly. The GOE hopes to reach consensus on this issue
with its Latin American neighbors. FM Espinosa will touch on
this topic in her remarks.
5. (SBU) Israel: The GOE feels strongly that Israel must
be treated fairly and given a reasonable hearing at the Human
Rights Council. Puma was sympathetic to the view that past
Commission action was stacked against Israel, but asserted
the GOE position that there have been human rights violations
committed by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The GOE will reserve its judgment on the matter for the time
being.
6. (SBU) Protection of Freedom of Expression: Highlighting
the freedom of the press in Ecuador, Puma stated that Ecuador
will always work to protect freedom of expression throughout
the world. In general, the GOE does not except the
defamation of religion. The GOE is committed to preserving
freedom of speech, so long as an individual's speech does not
violate another person's rights.
GOE Priorities
--------------
7. (SBU) The GOE will highlight its positions in favor of
Council institutional reform, particularly the establishment
of a transparent work plan and on country specific mandates.
FM Espinosa and the GOE delegation will also raise the issue
of Colombia's aerial coca fumigation along the border with
Ecuador as a violation of the human rights of affected
Ecuadorians.
JEWELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL AORC SNAR UN CO EC
SUBJECT: GOE REACTION TO HRC OBJECTIVES
REF: STATE 26833
1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points on March 9 to
Lourdes Puma Puma, MFA Director General for multilateral
affairs. Puma confirmed that Ecuadorian Foreign Minister
Maria Fernanda Espinoza will attend the opening sessions of
the Human Rights Council, as well as the disarmament
commission.
Response to USG Priorities
--------------
2. (SBU) Burma: The GOE agrees in principal with USG
position on Burma. The GOE hopes that swift action is taken.
3. (SBU) Sudan: The GOE continues to support the
Assessment Mission's visit to Sudan and will support any
proposals in the Human Rights Council that are designed to
help those who are suffering in Sudan. Puma expressed her
hope that the Mission's reports would be unbiased and fair.
4. (SBU) Country Specific Mandates: Puma described this
set of issues as complex and did not commit the GOE. She
said the GOE links the Country Specific Mandates directly to
the overall institution building of the Council. The GOE
does not want to see the Council politicized (as it believes
the Human Rights Commission was) and wants to be certain that
each Country Specific Mandate is dealt with fairly and
thoroughly. The GOE hopes to reach consensus on this issue
with its Latin American neighbors. FM Espinosa will touch on
this topic in her remarks.
5. (SBU) Israel: The GOE feels strongly that Israel must
be treated fairly and given a reasonable hearing at the Human
Rights Council. Puma was sympathetic to the view that past
Commission action was stacked against Israel, but asserted
the GOE position that there have been human rights violations
committed by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The GOE will reserve its judgment on the matter for the time
being.
6. (SBU) Protection of Freedom of Expression: Highlighting
the freedom of the press in Ecuador, Puma stated that Ecuador
will always work to protect freedom of expression throughout
the world. In general, the GOE does not except the
defamation of religion. The GOE is committed to preserving
freedom of speech, so long as an individual's speech does not
violate another person's rights.
GOE Priorities
--------------
7. (SBU) The GOE will highlight its positions in favor of
Council institutional reform, particularly the establishment
of a transparent work plan and on country specific mandates.
FM Espinosa and the GOE delegation will also raise the issue
of Colombia's aerial coca fumigation along the border with
Ecuador as a violation of the human rights of affected
Ecuadorians.
JEWELL